IT's the PLIERS

Modoc ED

Modoc ED

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For years (at least 25) I've carried a Leatherman Super Tool (original version) in a belt sheath and used it almost daily while still in the Navy and while a mechanic in a power company's heavy duty diesel garage. I fully retired in 1996 and continued to carry the Super Tool daily but just in the last 9-months quit carrying it as it was pretty heavy and I wanted some type of tool to carry that was lighter. I started carrying a Victorinox Hiker (in my pocket) and it was much easier to carry and much lighter than the Super Tool. But there was something missing. THE PLIERS The Hiker had pretty much all the same tools as the Super Tool -- screwdrivers (standard and philips), saw, can and bottle opener, etc. but not the pliers. Well, I got to looking around and came upon the Leatherman Juice series and got the Leatherman Juice C2 but wanted something with a bit more so Thursday I ordered a Leatherman Juice CS4 "next day air" and got it yesteday PERFECT!!! Light weight but with all the tools of the Super Tool and then some -- scissors, corkscrew. I put it in a belt sheath and carried it yesterday and am carrying it today and it rides un-noticed. So I'll be carrying it daily from now on. It's not as heavy-duty as the Super Tool but it will do just fine for my purposes -- tightening screws/bolts on wheel-lines as well as the wheel-lines themselves and other things I come across.

leathermanvictorinoxsiz.jpg


Will I quit using my Victorinox SAKs? Hell no! I love the SAKs and will continue to use/carry them. I just got a Victorinox Farmer last week and am and will continue to carry it in my left front pocket for use most of the time -- a little redundant as to tools but quick to the hand and better for heavy use than the CS4. My right front pocket is reserved for my Traditional knives -- Case Barlows a Schatt & Morgan Stockman a Case Trapper a Schrade 80T or whatever strikes my fancy every day.
 
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I was in a quest for a lighter MT as well as I got tired of carrying my Wave, and I ended up with SOG Pocket Powerplier. I had the Juice, but I missed the full size pliers because it's much more capable in turning bolts. The basic Powerplier model is listed as 5.5 oz, which is the same weight as Juice CS4. However, in reality it weighs just a little over 5 oz. The Powerplier doesn't have as many tools, but since I need full size pliers it works better for me.
 
These are some interesting points you've made here, Ed. I've never seen or handled a Juice in person, and have kind of written them off as being too small to be useful ..... perhaps I've been too hasty in my judgement.

I'm not familiar with wheel-lines and what size the screws/bolts are on them - enlighten me here, my friend. I really find the Farmer serves almost all my needs for a utility type knife, but I know pliers come in handy at times. I had a Vic Swisstool, but didn't really need that much tool, so I sold it. Been debating with myself on a Swisstool Spirit S, but maybe I'll have to throw a Juice into the "debate" also.
 
The photos below are not mine -- taken off the Internet.

Wheel lines are used to irrigate large fields of alphalfa, hay, wheat, oats, etc.. Some wheel lines are 1/4 mile long or longer. Here is a wheel line and a wheel line in action. In the first picture you can see a box about half way down the line. That covers the engine, geared wheels, and chain used to move the wheel line.

wheelline1.jpg
wheelline2.jpg


Here is the engine, geared wheels, and chain used to move the wheel line. They are small engines but are able to move heavy wheel lines because the size of the geared wheels can be changed to adjust torque.

wheelline3.jpg


Over the years the engine, geared wheel, etc. need adjusting/fixing and it is necessary to have a tool with you at all times to do the fixing. A pair of pliers is perfect so you can adjust various sized screws/nuts, etc.. Most of these wheel lines have a small box or shelf mounted to the engine tray with various sized nuts, screws, bolts, etc.. that are used to replace ones that have vibrated off with use. The pliers are also useful to adjust throttle springs and other engine and wheel line items.

I don't work with these wheel lines on regular basis but if I'm on a ranch or farm shooting ground squirrels, hunting coyotes or badgers, etc. and a rancher or farmer needs help moving/fixing their wheel lines, I gladly ptich in and help whenever I can. It's the least I can do to show my appreciation for their letting me shoot on their property.
 
Before multitools, I used to carry a Swiss Army Knife, a small Vise-Grip, and a screwdriver with straight and Philips heads offset at opposite ends. When the first Leatherman came out, that replaced SAK and pliers and drivers.

Now that I don't need a big multitool everyday, being retired, I began carrying a Victorinox Farmer and a Skeletool CX. The Skeletool is lightweight, and carries by pocket clip or carabiner.
 
Yep, I did pretty much the same thing before multitools too. My brother-in-law and I used to carry a 4" Cresent Wrench in our pockets. We took them down to the ship's machine shop and had a machinist mate grind down the end of the handles and machine a #2 sized philips head driver in the end of the handles. Worked great.
 
I worked in the Post Office, mostly work floor, sometimes office, moved into management fast. Carried tools in my suit jacket pockets. :) I could never understand people who couldn't fix a loose doorknob or clear a jammed Xerox machine. When we were kids, we loved making models or fixing things or tearing them apart. Why stop, it's fun!
 
even the small pliers in SAKs could come very handy in some situation... i know its so small but pretty stuirdy and well designed...

i love my tinker delux, but i would only carry it if i know i'm gonna need a plier, but actually, i'll prever to use my old leatherman PST pliers and keep a tinker small in my pocket...

SAKs are specials for me, so no matter what models, i'll carry one in my pocket as long as i could...
 
I love SAKs and always carry one. For my work, I work in IT, pliers are handy too. For my kind of work you usually don't need heavy duty pliers, the pliers of a Juice are good enough. The Juice is fine for light and medium duty tasks. I rotate between a Juice S2 and a Kick.
 
I love my SAK Mechanic; pliers and phillips head. Still small enough for the pocket IMHO. Never had much use for the scissors, saw or corkscrew.

Rich S
 
Thanks for the response & pics, Ed. :thumbup: It's always interesting to see what it takes to grow crops in different parts of the U.S.
 
Thanks for the link powernoodle. Pretty good review -- a bit funny too.
 
Hi Ed, I have the Juice S2 and its great. The quality of these tools is outstanding. I carry the wave on my belt 24/7. powernoodle thanks for the link.
 
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